City man accused of violently beating dog

July 9, 2013

MARTINSBURG - A Martinsburg man accused by neighbors of violently beating his wife's dog has been charged with one count of felony animal cruelty.

Witnesses told police they saw Robert Alonza Jackson, of Jasmine Lane, allegedly punch the dog and strike the animal with a metal spatula before shocking the dog with an underground electric fence and allegedly slamming the medium-sized white pit bull mix head-first onto his asphalt driveway on May 27.

The dog, named Whitey Kay, was seized by Berkeley County Animal Control and was later examined by a veterinarian.

According to a report, the vet found that although there was scarring on the dog's face, there was no way to determine what caused it.

The vet also concluded that were no overt signs of abuse and found the dog was in good physical condition at the time of the visit, records show.

On the day of the alleged beating, police responded to Jackson's residence to assist animal control officers with a report of animal cruelty. Animal control officers obtained two written statements from alleged eyewitnesses and a third statement from someone who said they heard the beating, which witnesses said lasted about 20 minutes.

Two of the witnesses said they saw Jackson beating the dog after the animal tore up some plants outside. They both told police Jackson punched the dog several times and struck the dog with a metal spatula.

One of the witnesses said he saw Jackson pick the dog up over his shoulder and bodyslam the dog face first into the driveway, records show.

The third witness said she heard the beginning of the incident and walked outside.

All three witnesses told police they saw Jackson drag the dog down the driveway and across an underground electric fence.

Two witnesses said Jackson shocked the dog for "several minutes" and another said he "held her (over the underground fence) for a little while," records show.

One neighbor at the scene said she didn't see anything, but heard the dog "screaming," records show.

Police found the dog had a few fresh, shallow lacerations on its muzzle, and blood was trickling from the wounds. It also was wearing a collar commonly used with underground electric fences. A metal spatula was found in the yard.

While still at the scene, Jackson's wife returned home and officers told her of the allegations.

"(Her) facial expressions never changed, showing neither concern nor surprise. Her first statement was 'Well, she never listens," records show.

Police asked the woman if she condoned Jackson's alleged actions against her dog, but she said that she wasn't home at the time and couldn't say anything about what may have happened.

Jackson told police the dog had ruined a few potted plants and that he was disciplining the animal. He said he only spanked the dog and admitted to striking the dog twice with the metal spatula. When asked about the marks on the dog's muzzle, Jackson also said that the dog often fights with his other dog.

Police discussed ways to properly discipline a dog, but Jackson and his wife said that it was different with a pit bull. Jackson told police he had "to show them who's boss," and that you have to be "harder" on a pit bull, records show.

When animal control officers told Jackson they were seizing the dog, he allegedly told them to take the dog because he didn't like it. Jackson was arraigned Friday on a felony warrant charging him with felony animal cruelty, and he was later released from custody after posting $3,000 bail.